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Del Mar Picks & Predictions — August 1, 2026

August 1, 202611 racesAll Del Mar picks

It's a picture-perfect Saturday at Del Mar — clear skies, 81 degrees, and a light ocean breeze rolling off the Pacific. Conditions don't get much better than this at the seaside track, and with 11 races spread across both the turf and dirt, there's plenty of action to keep you busy from first post to final furlong.

The card is a nice mix of maiden events and claiming races in the early going before things heat up with a pair of stakes races in Races 5 and 10. The turf is expected to be firm and true all afternoon, which sets up beautifully for the five grass races on the card. Dirt bettors, you're not left out — four dirt sprints and routes give you plenty of spots to attack.

TrackWiz analysis has flagged some sharp angles throughout the card, including a longshot play in Race 8 and what looks like a pace mismatch setting up in the late Pick 4. Let's break it down.

Best Bets

Race 1

9:00 PM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 5 fur · Turf

A wide-open maiden turf sprint where two horses separate themselves from the pack on TrackWiz ratings, setting up a potential top-two finish between a pair of lightly raced types.

win6Maggles McGeeML 3/1

Maggles McGee tops the TrackWiz ratings at 86.5 and draws the 6-post in a field where pace control could be decisive over five furlongs on the grass. Trainer George Papaprodromou is no stranger to the Del Mar turf, and pairing him with the experienced Umberto Rispoli is a serious rider-trainer combo at a fair 3/1 morning line. The average speed figure of 55 is solid for a maiden sprint, and the overall rating edge over the field is meaningful in a race full of unknowns.

place2Sacred SoundML 5/2

Sacred Sound sits just behind the top pick at an 84.04 TrackWiz rating and rates as a legitimate win threat herself at 5/2. Juan J. Hernandez has been one of the most active and effective turf riders at Del Mar, and trainer Peter Miller consistently hits at a high rate with turf maidens. Her average speed figure of 57 is the highest of any horse with a recorded figure in this field, which is a subtle but real edge.

show8Mia PiaML 12/1

Mia Pia is the value play in the exotics at 12/1 on the morning line, packing a 58.71 TrackWiz rating that puts her ahead of several lower-profile runners in this field. Her average speed figure of 56 matches Sacred Sound's and beats Maggles McGee's, suggesting she's been working competently — the price just doesn't reflect it. Trainer Karen Headley with Kyle Frey up is a combo worth noting at a big number.

Race 2

9:32 PM EDT

Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

A claiming sprint on the dirt where three horses cluster near the top of the TrackWiz ratings and the pace scenario figures to be honest — setting up a potential closer or stalker to benefit in the stretch.

win7Pop RoxML 3/1

Pop Rox leads all horses in this field with an 86.37 TrackWiz rating and backs it up with the standout career win percentage at 31% — that's a meaningful number in a claiming field where consistency matters. Trainer Jose Francisco D'Angelo sends him out with Emisael Jaramillo, a capable handler at this level. The 3/1 morning line makes him a reasonable chalk, and his profile as a horse who knows how to win gives him a clear edge.

place2Oveta's HobbyML 5/1

Oveta's Hobby checks in at an 84.17 TrackWiz rating with a 17% career win rate and an average speed figure of 56, putting her in legitimate contention with the top pick. Edgar Payeras has the call for trainer Sergio Morfin, and at 5/1 she offers some place value if the public loads up on the favorite. She's the type who can sit close to the pace in a 5.5-furlong dirt sprint and still have enough left to hit the board.

show5Miz ClubcaliML 7/2

Miz Clubcali brings the most impressive career win percentage of any horse in this field at 22%, pairing with a solid 82.78 TrackWiz rating that suggests she belongs near the top of this claiming group. The 7/2 morning line makes her one of the shorter prices on the board, but her consistent record justifies that confidence. Trainer Andy Mathis with Tiago Josue Pereira aboard is a combination worth respecting in shorter dirt sprints.

Race 3

10:04 PM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 5 fur · Turf

An all-maiden turf sprint full of first-timers and lightly raced types, which means this one comes down to workouts, trainer intent, and pace scenario — a classic Del Mar summer puzzle.

win3BrocksterML 5/2

Brockster tops the TrackWiz ratings at 57.5 in a race where the margins between horses are razor-thin, giving him a slight but notable edge. Trainer Luis Mendez sends him out from the 3-post with Edwin A. Maldonado aboard, a workmanlike pairing at a fair 5/2 price. In a field where most horses have no recorded speed figures, any edge in the TrackWiz model becomes amplified — and Brockster holds the highest rating while opening as a reasonable favorite.

place7High AmbitionML 3/1

High Ambition is the only horse in this field with a recorded average speed figure — 57 — and that piece of form information alone sets him apart from a bunch of unknown quantities. Trainer Jose Francisco D'Angelo teams with Emisael Jaramillo from the outside 7-post, and a rating of 56.67 puts him just a hair behind Brockster. If he's seen a real race scenario in his past, that experience edge over debut runners could be decisive at 3/1.

show5BliksemML 5/1

Bliksem slots in at 53.33 on the TrackWiz scale with the Jeff Mullins barn behind him — Mullins is one of the most productive turf trainers in Southern California and consistently puts up sharp first-time grass runners. The 5/1 price offers a bit of value in what figures to be a chaotic race without a clear pace setup. Keeping him in the exotic mix as a show horse makes sense given the barn's turf pedigree.

We're opening three races for free today, and they cover a solid cross-section of the card. In Race 1, maiden special weight sprinters hit the turf at 5 furlongs and Maggles McGee (morning line 3/1, TrackWiz rating 86.5) comes in as our top-rated horse on the turf opener — a strong number for a first-level maiden. Race 2 shifts to the dirt for a 5½-furlong claiming sprint where Pop Rox (3/1 ML, 86.37 rating) looks well-placed in class and should benefit from a clean break on a fast main track. Race 3 brings us back to the turf with another maiden special weight, where Brockster is our top pick at 5/2 on the morning line.

The common thread in the free races? Pace scenarios favor front-runners in the short turf sprints today, and the firm going rewards horses with clean early foot. All three of our free picks show the ability to slot into good position out of the gate — never a bad thing when the rail is where you want to be on a dry Del Mar turf course.

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Full Card Analysis

Race 4

10:38 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 5 fur · Dirt

A maiden claimer on the dirt with a wide-open feel — the morning-line favorite carries the lowest odds but not the highest TrackWiz rating, which sets up an interesting value scenario at the top of the card.

win4Simple MajorityML 8/1

Simple Majority leads all horses in this field with a 64.79 TrackWiz rating despite opening at 8/1, making this TrackWiz's top value play of the race. Trainer Jeff Bonde teams with Tiago Josue Pereira, and an average speed figure of 53 gives Simple Majority a confirmed baseline that many in this field can't match. If the public is loading up on the shorter-priced Keepsmesane, the overlay here could be significant — getting the top-rated horse at nearly double-digit odds is exactly the kind of spot where exotics pay.

place7KeepsmesaneML 7/5

Keepsmesane is the public's choice at 7/5 and carries a 59.33 TrackWiz rating alongside the field's highest recorded average speed figure of 56 — those numbers make him a legitimate contender even if our model has Simple Majority rated higher overall. Trainer Doug F. O'Neill is a high-volume, high-percentage barn and Edwin A. Maldonado gets the call. At heavy odds-on, he's hard to beat outright, but using him under Simple Majority in exactas and trifectas is the move.

show9Red RaiderML 5/1

Red Raider opens at 5/1 with a 53.33 TrackWiz rating, slotting into a comfortable third tier in this field. Trainer Craig Anthony Lewis sends him out with Abel Lezcano, and while there's no recorded speed figure to lean on, the TrackWiz rating puts him ahead of several horses with actual form lines. In a chaotic maiden claimer where pace is unresolved, a horse with unknown ceiling at a fair price deserves spot in show/trifecta coverage.

Race 5

11:10 PM EDT

Stakes · 1 1/16 mi · Turf

Stakes company on the Del Mar turf mile-and-a-sixteenth, where On the Whim rates well clear of the field but a strong mid-pack of proven winners makes this far from a forgone conclusion.

win7On the WhimML 7/2

On the Whim is our top-rated horse in this stakes at 86.35 — a significant gap over the next closest contender — and his average speed figure of 57 is the highest in the field. Trainer Dean Pederson sends him from the 7-post with Tiago Josue Pereira, and a 25% career win rate in stakes company is nothing to dismiss. The 7/2 morning line gives us a fair price on the race's most analytically compelling runner.

place3Prince DolceML 4/1

Prince Dolce brings a 28% career win rate — best in this field alongside Mr. Disrespectful — and a TrackWiz rating of 81.38 that puts him solidly in the conversation at 4/1. Trainer Steve R. Knapp pairs with Ricardo Gonzalez, and the average speed figure of 55 is competitive across the board here. He's the type of consistent graded-level horse who fits comfortably as a place back in a stakes where the favorite may draw a lot of the public's money.

show5Old PalML 5/2

Old Pal owns the best career win percentage in this field at 33% and pairs that with a 73.38 TrackWiz rating, making him a solid stalker profile at 5/2. Trainer Mark Glatt is one of the sharpest conditioners at Del Mar and Juan J. Hernandez knows this course as well as anyone. The combination of elite win percentage, a proven trainer, and a familiar jockey makes Old Pal the right show horse to round out your exacta and trifecta tickets.

Race 6

11:40 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 mi · Dirt

A one-mile dirt claimer where Millbo Baggins separates on the TrackWiz model but Big Reflections brings the most impressive win rate in the field — pace will tell the tale around one turn at Del Mar.

win8Millbo BagginsML 5/1

Millbo Baggins tops the TrackWiz ratings at 84.17 — a sizeable gap over the rest of the field — and opens at a generous 5/1 on the morning line given that advantage. Trainer Aggie Ordonez sends him with Armando Ayuso, a rider who's been getting around Del Mar's one-mile oval effectively. The average speed figure of 53 is consistent with the field, and a 14% career win rate in claiming company suggests he's earned his way to the top of this field through legitimate form.

place5Big ReflectionsML 4/1

Big Reflections brings the standout career win percentage in this field at 33% — a number that speaks to a horse who knows how to finish — paired with a 71.03 TrackWiz rating that slots him in second on our model. Tyler Baze gets the call for trainer Sean McCarthy, and with an average speed figure of 54 he's got a slight edge on the majority of rivals. A horse closing at this rate deserves serious place consideration, especially if the pace melts down in front of him.

show4D Day SkyML 3/1

D Day Sky draws in at 3/1 — shortest of our three picks — with a 68.84 TrackWiz rating and the class pedigree of trainer Peter Eurton behind him. His average speed figure of 54 matches Big Reflections, and a 5% career win rate is the one thing working against him, though claiming fields often bring horses in career turnaround spots. If Eurton is pointing him here with intent, the morning line underestimates his chances.

Race 7

12:10 AM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 1 mi · Turf

A deep, sprawling maiden claiming turf mile with eleven runners and wildly varying profiles — Sensational Dream leads the ratings by a country mile, but the race has enough pace and chaos to keep it interesting.

win10Sensational DreamML 5/1

Sensational Dream tops the TrackWiz model at 84.17 — more than 15 points clear of the next horse — and opens at a generous 5/1 despite that analytical edge. Trainer Adam Kitchingman gets Hector Isaac Berrios up, and a recorded average speed figure of 55 gives this horse confirmed form in a field stocked with unknowns. In a maiden claiming turf route with this many first- or second-time starters, a horse with clear form data and a top rating is exactly what you want at an overlay price.

place3ZurayaML 3/1

Zuraya checks in at 69.14 on the TrackWiz scale with an average speed figure of 55, slotting in as the logical second choice for our model despite opening at 3/1. Trainer Michael W. McCarthy is an elite conditioner with a strong record on the grass, and Umberto Rispoli is one of the sharper turf jockeys at the meet. She could easily win this race outright — the 3/1 price is fair for a horse with her pedigree and connections.

show1Silkie SeveiML 4/1

Silkie Sevei rates third in the field at 62.70 and lands in the hands of Juan J. Hernandez for trainer Philip D'Amato — a duo that's clicked consistently on the Del Mar turf. An average speed figure of 55 matches the top two picks, which is encouraging in a race where pace shape is uncertain. At 4/1, she's worth including as a show horse and in wide exotics, particularly if the race sets up for closers.

Race 8

12:40 AM EDT

Allowance Optional Claiming · 6 1/2 fur · Dirt

An allowance optional claimer on the dirt going six and a half furlongs where the TrackWiz model disagrees sharply with the morning line — multiple double-digit shots rate above the chalk, creating real overlay potential.

win5SeptembersixtyfourML 12/1

Septembersixtyfour opens at 12/1 but earns a 73.96 TrackWiz rating — the highest in the field — which is a significant discrepancy that our model flags as a prime value opportunity. Trainer Mike Puype pairs with Kazushi Kimura, a jockey who's been riding with confidence through the Del Mar meet. His average speed figure of 56 ties with several rivals, but the overall composite rating gives him the analytical edge, and a 16% career win rate means he's not a stranger to the winner's circle.

place7See Through ItML 8/1

See Through It rates at 71.33 with a 32% career win percentage — one of the stronger win rates in this field — and opens at 8/1 on the morning line. Trainer Genaro Vallejo sends him out with Cesar Belmont, and an average speed figure of 56 matches the top runners in this group. A horse winning nearly a third of his starts at allowance/optional claiming level is exactly the type that punches above his odds, making him dangerous as a place horse if the 12/1 shot gets loose on the front end.

show6AhrensML 10/1

Ahrens rates at 70.51 with an impressive 50% career win percentage — tied for the highest in the field — and opens at a surprising 10/1 on the morning line. Trainer John W. Sadler is one of the most respected conditioners in California, and Joel Rosario is a world-class jockey who routinely finds the best trip in a field. The disconnect between that career win rate, Sadler's reputation, and the double-digit price is worth exploiting in trifecta and exacta boxes.

Race 9

1:10 AM EDT

Allowance Optional Claiming · 5 fur · Turf

The biggest field of the day — fourteen runners in a five-furlong turf allowance optional claimer — sets up for a contested pace and potential chaos, but two horses on our sheet have separated themselves with elite ratings.

win3Ballyvaughan GigML 3/1

Ballyvaughan Gig leads all fourteen horses in this race with an 87.08 TrackWiz rating and backs it up with the field's highest average speed figure of 59 — that's a meaningful gap over most rivals and signals genuine class. Trainer Isidro Tamayo sends him out from the 3-post with Edwin A. Maldonado, and a 29% career win rate confirms this horse knows how to close the deal. At 3/1, he's a fair price rather than an overlay, but the rating edge and elite speed figure make him the most justifiable top pick on the entire card.

place5Scene by MeML 4/1

Scene by Me rates just behind at 85.62 with a 25% career win rate, an average speed figure of 57, and the powerful Mark Glatt barn behind her. Emisael Jaramillo gets the call, a proven turf sprint rider, and at 4/1 this is a horse that could very easily win outright. She's the type of horse where the place bet is the safe side of a race where the top two both have strong claims — using both in an exacta saver makes sense.

show12JetovatorML 5/2

Jetovator brings an 80.01 TrackWiz rating — third in this massive field — alongside an average speed figure of 57 that matches Scene by Me for the second-highest in the race. Trainer Peter Eurton is sharp with sprinters on the Del Mar turf, and Antonio Fresu is a capable jockey with good Del Mar form. At 5/2, he's actually shorter than our two top picks, which tells you the public respects him — using him as a show horse while chasing the higher-rated pair at longer odds is a reasonable approach.

Race 10

1:40 AM EDT

Stakes · 1 1/16 mi · Dirt

The feature stakes on the card goes a mile and a sixteenth on the dirt, and Seismic Beauty looms as the class of the field — but Chasten's 50% career win rate and Philip D'Amato's track record make this a race with real depth.

win8Seismic BeautyML 5/2

Seismic Beauty leads the entire card with an 87.81 TrackWiz rating and a 44% career win percentage that screams elite-level horse in this group. Trainer Bob Baffert and jockey Juan J. Hernandez is one of the most lethal combinations in American racing, particularly in stakes on the dirt. An average speed figure of 53 is the only number that doesn't jump off the page, but at 5/2 in a stakes field, the overall profile — top rating, elite win rate, championship connections — makes the case to put her on top.

place5Majestic OopsML 9/2

Majestic Oops rates second in the field at 81.68 with a 22% career win percentage and an average speed figure of 55 — the highest of the three picks and a meaningful edge in a stakes that will be honest. Trainer Philip D'Amato is one of the best trainers in California at getting stakes horses ready for peak efforts, and Joel Rosario is a Hall of Fame-level rider who excels in these mid-level stakes spots. At 9/2, there's fair value here for a horse who profiles as the legitimate second-best runner on the TrackWiz model.

show6Simply JokingML 5/1

Simply Joking sits third in our model at 79.88 with a 30% career win rate and an average speed figure of 54 that's competitive with the field. Trainer Michael W. McCarthy gets Emisael Jaramillo up, a pairing that's produced results at Del Mar, and at 5/1 there's value in using her to round out a trifecta. In a small stakes field, three horses separating clearly from the bottom half of the draw makes a 1-2-3 box an attractive exotic play.

Race 11

2:10 AM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 1 1/16 mi · Turf

A sprawling thirteen-runner maiden claimer on the turf going a mile and a sixteenth to close the card — Lorenzo Bernini rates well clear on our model, but After Dawn's morning line and a deep supporting cast keep this from being a gimme.

win2Lorenzo BerniniML 4/1

Lorenzo Bernini leads the field with an 85.62 TrackWiz rating — more than 25 points clear of most rivals — and lands in the hands of Antonio Fresu for trainer George Papaprodromou, who is excellent with grass routes. An average speed figure of 54 gives him confirmed form in what figures to be a plodding field, and at 4/1 the price is fair for the horse our model rates as a clear standout. Papaprodromou's turf record at Del Mar makes this a barn angle worth trusting.

place4After DawnML EVN

After Dawn drew widespread attention with an even-money morning line — the shortest in the field by a wide margin — and a TrackWiz rating of 60.00 that puts him well behind Lorenzo Bernini but still in the conversation. The scratched jockey notation is flagged in the race card, so confirm the rider change before wagering, as that information may affect the price and public confidence. If the new rider is an upgrade or lateral move, the even-money line still suggests connections feel strongly about this horse despite the training question mark.

show10TimayyyyML 7/2

Timayyyy rates at 59.87 — third in the field — with an average speed figure of 54 and a 7/2 morning line that reflects public respect. Trainer Brian A. Lynch gets Juan J. Hernandez up, one of the most reliable turf jockeys in Southern California, and that pairing at this price is a combination worth including in your trifecta. In a wide-open maiden claimer, the show position is often where value hides, and Timayyyy fits the profile of a horse who'll finish running even if he can't quite get there first.

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Bottom line: Del Mar is playing fast and fair today under sunny skies, and TrackWiz has identified strong plays from the very first race. Maggles McGee, Pop Rox, and Brockster headline our free picks, while Seismic Beauty in the Race 10 stakes is the play of the day for subscribers. Get the full card breakdown, pace scenarios, and exotic strategies at /pricing — and good luck out there today.

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